Keith Appling matched a career high with 25 points to help Michigan State pull away and beat visiting Portland, 82-67, on Monday night in its first game as a top-ranked team in 13 seasons.

‘‘I think it will be good for us in the end,’’ Izzo said. ‘‘Nobody has to worry about us peaking in November.’’

The Spartans (4-0) struggled in the first half, leading by 4 points after seven lead changes and three ties.

Travis Trice’s 3-pointer broke a tie with 12:26 left and he followed that up seconds later with a steal and layup.

The Pilots (1-2) were led by Kevin Bailey’s 12 points.

The Spartans were sluggish for more than a half, playing hours after being voted No. 1 in the AP poll for the first time since they were defending champions during the 2000-01 season. The only other time they were atop the poll was 1978-79, when the Magic Johnson-led team went on to claim the national title.

Duke 91, UNC Asheville 55 — Jabari Parker had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and the No. 6 Blue Devils were victorious in the opening round of the NIT Season Tip-Off.

Duke (3-1) held a 42-28 rebounding advantage, built a 20-point first-half lead, and coasted to its 104th straight nonconference win at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Sam Hughes scored 16 points for the Bulldogs (1-3).

Syracuse 56, St. Francis Brooklyn 50 — Jerami Grant scored 13 points, including a tying follow with 1:43 left, and set up the go-ahead basket by Michael Gbinije in the final minute, as the No. 9 Orange held off the visiting Terriers in an opening-round game of the Maui Invitational.

Syracuse (4-0), making its first appearance in the tournament since winning it in 1998, plays its next game in Hawaii in a week against Minnesota.

The Terriers (2-2) knocked off reigning ACC champion Miami, 66-62, in overtime to open their season. It was the first victory in school history against an ACC team.

Florida 67, Southern 53 — The 16th-ranked Gators coasted past the Jaguars in Gainesville, Fla., but could be without point guard Kasey Hill for a month, maybe longer.

Hill, a freshman point guard averaging 10 points per game, suffered a high ankle sprain.

Florida (3-1) is already point guard Scottie Wilbekin. The senior is suspended indefinitely, but he could return as early as next week.

Luke Apfeld led the Catamounts (1-3) with 14 points, 12 in the second half.

The win was the 30th straight for Providence at home against nonconference opponents — a school mark since the start of the Big East.

Rhode Island 66, Metro State 63 — Xavier Munford scored 16 points and hit three free throws in the final 23 seconds to help the Rams (3-1) hold off the Roadrunners in the opening round of the NIT Season Tip-Off in Tucson.

Women

Baylor 79, Rice 46 — Odyssey Sims scored 33 points, outscoring Rice much of the game on her own as the ninth-ranked Bears (3-0) extended their nation-best home winning streak to 60 games.

Rice (2-2) didn’t surpass Sims’s final point total until Jessica Kuster’s basket with 6:22 left made it 64-34.